Synopsis

Recent research efforts in project management have focused on discovering factors that influence project success. Several definitions or measures of project success are available in the literature.  However, research has established that the criteria for evaluating the success or failure of a project are based on stakeholders’ expectations where success is a measure of the extent to which these expectations are met.  Different categories of stakeholders each with a different expectations, needs, and degree of interest have been identified.  While some researchers consider time, cost, and quality as predominant criteria, others suggest that success is something more complex.  Project stakeholders have a major impact on the implementation of a project and therefore influence its success and performance.

Public sector projects operate in an environment with conflicting goals and outcomes with several stakeholders with varied and conflicting interests. A critical success factor is stakeholder engagement where there is the need for continuous interactive dialogue with, and among stakeholders that throughout project life cycle. Whereas the project manager is accountable for the success of the project, the stakeholders determine the success of the project. Stakeholder engagement is critical to the success of projects. The extent to which stakeholder engagement impacts the success of public sector project is examined.